The Atlanta constitution. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1885-19??, 1887-10-04
READS LIKE FICTION.
Thrilling Tale by an Heir to a
Fortune.
INVEIGLED INTO AN OHIO MADHoUsE


perintendent of the retreat is DIR. George f.
Cook. DIR, Cook has filed that position for
upwards Of two years. For some little time
back there have been runors running around
Oxford rejecting rather seriously upon the
management Of the institution. One OF the
most prominent and startling Of these was to
the effect that young man from the SOUTH Of
large means, had been kidnapped into the re-
sort and was being detained there illegally and
against his will through the conspiracy of
friends on the outside. who wanted him out Of
the way in order that they might the more
readily possess themselves of his fortune.
This rumor was investigated. The young
man referred TO was found. He had been re-
leased from the retreat Thursday evening I'M
der peculiar circumstances. His name is
Samuel L.. Doan. lie is small, slight, boy
ish-looking young fellow Of %, bright, apt and
intelligent and told his story in very straight
forward and impressive manner.
"My father, said he, "was Estis Doan, OF
Memphis, Tom, one of the largest cotton
merchants of that section Of the south. He
died two years ago. He left large property,
and his viii, while making ample provisions
for my mother and the other children, showed
some little fayoritism 10 me.
although / was the widest one in the
family, | was always my fathers favorite
child. The fayoritesm shown in my direction
by tho will aroused the jealousy OF certain
other members Of the family, and this, III the
light of the facts and circumstances, is the
secret of my recent involuntary incarceration,
/ travelled about the country, and looked upon
wine when it was red. Along in July last
made up my mind to brace up. Our family
physician, who was cognizant OF this inten-
ton, suggested the Retreat at Oxford, o., as a
good place for me to go to. | determined to
enter the Retreat. | accordingly arrived in
oxford on July 18th last and entered it at
once. The terms are $40 week. When l
entered j was thrust into what is called the
back ward among the insane and epileptic
patients, where the inmates are constantly in
charge of keepers and are under lock and key.
This is hardly what / had expected, but /
thought perhaps it would be the best thing
after all, as 10 would bo impossible for me to
get out TO get anything to drink, and the
bracing-up process would be expedited. re-
manned an uncomplaning inmate OF that ward
for three weeks. At the end of that time, feel
ing satisfied that | had got the whisky out of
me, | requested DIR, Cook to transfer me to
other and better quarters and accord me some
ZINC, sif,' said DR., Cook, very grufiy and
emphatieaily 'you'll stay just where you are
j was astonnded. had gone there as I'd go
to any hotel or watering place, prepared TO
pay my way, and expecting such treatment
and privileges us l desired 81.
"Then," said |, al leave the institution"
''Not much, said DIR. Cook, Il am going to
keep you here
Of my own free will. | was of age, and had
not been committed there ! was dumhfound-
ed. Not only did Cook give me the intell-
gence that was to remain i'll the institution
whether or moan inmate of ward occupied
by lunatics, imbeciles, epileptics and other UNI
desirable companions, but he impaired the adj
ditonal information that all letters ] wrote
were To DO handed to him unsealod, to be read
and censored before being mailed. When j
entered the institution l had a book of blank
plpplIE ON Afatn nf
phis. The second night was there this book
was taken from my pocket. a day later Cook
presented one of the blank checks to me and
requested me 10 sign. i refused to append my
signature until he had illed it out. He final
~ filled II out for 500 for four weeks board.
Then / signed.
FINALLY succeeded in smuggling letter
out, through an attendant, 60 Mr. Nelson w.
Perry, of Oxford, of whom | had heard. MIR.
Perry smnggled an answer back, and through
this clandcstine correspondence | succeeded in
laying before Mr.. Perry n true statement OF my
case. He consulted "A lawyer, Mr. Palmer
Smith. Cook sent word to Mr.. Smith that he
had better have nothing to do with the matter.
Mr.. Smith sent back word that the case, rs it
presented itself TO him, appealed to humanity,
and that he would sft IL to tho bottom. In
order to satisfy Mr.. Smith that | was
responsible party | sent him word to tele-
graph the State National bank of Memphis as
to whether there was an account there to my
credit or not. Mr.. Smith had the Second Ma
tional bank of that place telegraph the State
National bank of Memphis to that effect. The
answer came back that there was money there
TO my credit but that n guardian had enioined
the bank not 20 pay II over to me, This was
new surprise. 1t was the first intimation
had that had -gpardan. 1t was another
conclusive demonstration of the existence of a
ooldshlooded, canspir99py ! immediately
10 the probate judge of Shelby county,
Tenn, inquiring whether there Trad been a
guardian appointed for me- This reply was
received
MrMrlns. Tenn, August. 10, lSs7-Mr. ganuel
Doan, Oxford, o.: DEAR SiR-Ieur communica
ton Of the ION Instant, WAS banded me by Judge J.
s, Galloway IN Nplywould state that no one has
peetnlly, =. J. QuI0LY. CLERK.
BY THOMAS 2. CRENsuAw. Deputy.
Upon the receipt of this letter Mr.. Perry
and Mr.. Smith communicated as TO its CON
tents with the State National bank. In day
or two the answer Camo back that investiga-
tion ON the part OF the bank had developed
the fact that II had been imposed upon, and
that the guardian story was all "A hoax; that
had no guardian, and the money 20 my credit
there was at my disposal. Finally, the fore
part of this week, Mr.. Smith determined 10
bring the matter TO an immediate issue by
taking out habcas corpus papers fer my re
lease. Ii happened that lr Cook. who had
an inkliug rs TO what was in contemplation,
approached Mr.. Smith and brought up the
subject of tho proposed hNbeas corpus pro
ceedings, and attempted TO dissuade him
from such a course, telling him that such u
proceeding would prove futile, as he had COM
miment papers for my detention.
"'What is tho character of the papers,
asked Mr.. Smith, ITS n bill OF lunaey,' was
the reply.
"fhe following day. ON Tuesday last, Mr..
Smith called at the Retreat. The doctor pro-
duced tho papers. Instead Of being q bill Of
luuacy, the papers We're a guarantee signed by
relatives Of mine in Tennessee TO secure him,
Cook, from any damages that might result in
case that brought an action against him for
illegal detention. This document left no fur
Their doubt about the whole affair being a con-
spiracy planned by relatives Of mine and par
ticipatcd in by Cook, He wont next day 10
Hamilton. however, and filed the petition in
haboas corpus Tho judge at Hamilton adj
viSed him. before having the papers issued
upon, 10 return TO the Retreat, TO make a
formal demand on Cook for my release. II the
demand WAS not aoccedcd 10 deputy sheriff
was 10 be sent ON 10 serve the papers and take
me out Of the institution by process of law"
MIR. Smith accordingly returned TO Oxford
and made the formal demand. Cook finally
agreed 20 release Doan ON the condition that
he would not he prosecuted for kidnapping
This Perry refused 10 do, hut Cook released
Doan. The mayor and other prominent oiti-
zens Of Oxford have the matter now in charge
and win prosecute Cook. Public sympathy Is
xvt4